# Fishing and Hunting Workers

> Hunt, trap, catch, or gather wild animals or aquatic animals and plants. May use nets, traps, or other equipment. May haul catch onto ship or other vessel.

- Edition: Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition
- Page: https://www.collegesref.com/careers/fishing-and-hunting-workers
- SOC code: 45-3031.00
- Career family: Farming, fishing and forestry
- Median annual pay: not reported
- Projected growth: Decline, -4.2%
- Openings a year: 3,300
- Typical entry education: No formal credential
- Bright outlook: no
- Data years: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

## Interest profile (code RCI)

| Interest area | Score (0–100) |
| --- | ---: |
| Realistic (R) | 100 |
| Investigative (I) | 21 |
| Artistic (A) | 1 |
| Social (S) | 1 |
| Enterprising (E) | 17 |
| Conventional (C) | 38 |

## What you'd do

- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials (importance 79/100)
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment (importance 78/100)
- Performing General Physical Activities (importance 78/100)
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems (importance 71/100)
- Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge (importance 68/100)
- Getting Information (importance 67/100)
- Handling and Moving Objects (importance 67/100)
- Thinking Creatively (importance 67/100)
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events (importance 66/100)
- Controlling Machines and Processes (importance 63/100)

## Skills

Coordination, Critical Thinking, Judgment and Decision Making, Speaking, Monitoring, Time Management, Active Listening, Complex Problem Solving, Instructing, Learning Strategies

## Knowledge

Geography, Mechanical, Customer and Personal Service, Law and Government, Biology, English Language, Sales and Marketing, Education and Training, Computers and Electronics, Public Safety and Security

## Also called

Abalone Fisherman, Albacore Fishing Boat Crewman, Alligator Hunter, Alligator Trapper, Animal Bounty Hunter, Animal Damage Control Agent, Animal Trapper, Bait Man, Beachman, Bird Trapper

## Majors that lead here (NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk, 4-digit CIP)

- Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management (CIP 0303, 32 colleges)

## Colleges with strong outcomes (College Scorecard, 2025)

| College | Program | Earnings 1 yr | Earnings 4 yrs | Median debt |
| --- | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: |
| [University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-wisconsin-stevens-point-3090) | Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | $40,837 | $52,424 | $20,192 |
| [California Polytechnic State University-Humboldt](https://www.collegesref.com/college/california-polytechnic-state-university-humboldt-361) | Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | not reported | $50,525 | not reported |
| [University of Rhode Island URI](https://www.collegesref.com/college/university-of-rhode-island-uri-3025) | Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | not reported | $48,348 | not reported |
| [Oregon State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/oregon-state-university-2035) | Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | $39,669 | $48,077 | $28,000 |
| [Texas A & M University-College Station](https://www.collegesref.com/college/texas-a-m-university-college-station-2694) | Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | $32,373 | $47,918 | $20,250 |
| [Lake Superior State University](https://www.collegesref.com/college/lake-superior-state-university-1425) | Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | $39,894 | $44,090 | $20,500 |
| [Purdue University-Main Campus](https://www.collegesref.com/college/purdue-university-main-campus-2163) | Fishing and Fisheries Sciences and Management | $33,684 | $40,053 | $17,750 |

## Related careers

- [Sailors and Marine Oilers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/sailors-and-marine-oilers): $51,520 median pay
- [Motorboat Operators](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/motorboat-operators): $47,520 median pay
- [Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/captains-mates-and-pilots-of-water-vessels): $92,460 median pay
- [Farmworkers, Farm, Ranch, and Aquacultural Animals](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/farmworkers-farm-ranch-and-aquacultural-animals): $36,670 median pay
- [Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery, and Greenhouse](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/farmworkers-and-laborers-crop-nursery-and-greenhouse): $35,660 median pay
- [Forest and Conservation Workers](https://www.collegesref.com/careers/forest-and-conservation-workers): $43,680 median pay

## Sources

- [O*NET Database](https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html), version 31.0 (CC BY 4.0)
- [BLS Employment Projections](https://www.bls.gov/emp/tables.htm), version 2025-35, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics](https://www.bls.gov/oes/tables.htm), version 2025, data year 2025 (Public domain (U.S. government work))
- [NCES CIP 2020 to SOC 2018 crosswalk](https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=56), version 2020, data year 2020 (Public domain (U.S. government work))

O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.